he piene_--And so Niccolo fled with his
pockets full of money." I spare the reader reflections on the history of
many bankers in Florence and Rome, who during the past two years followed
his example.

What is extremely interesting and original in this legend is the
declaration that Niccolo took the idea of the long and very singular
points on the lanterns from an onion. It recalls the story of the
acanthus leaf and the basket which suggested the Ionic capital. It was
understood by the narrator that the old man who gave "the tips" to
Niccolo was a wizard.

There was much more meaning attached to the lanterns and rings, such as
Niccolo made, than is generally known, as appears by the following
extract:

"Among the striking features of the Florentine palaces are the
handsome ornaments of bronze or wrought-iron which adorn the facades
of many of them. These were called _fanali_ or _lumiere_, and were
not, as one would naturally suppose, ornaments that a man might place
on his house according to his individual taste, but they were the
visible testimony of the public recognition of great deeds. On
festive occasions, these _fanali_ were provided with great pitch
torches, whose crackling flames gave a merry aspect to the whole
neighbourhood. Amerigo Vespucci addressed the account of one of his
voyages to the Gonfaloniere Piero Soderini, with whom he had formerly
been on intimate terms, and the latter procured a decree of the
Republic, in accordance with which _fanali_ were sent to the family
palace of the Vespucci, and kept burning day and night for three
days.

"The most beautiful of all the Florentine _fanali_ . . . are those
which adorn the corners of the famous Strozzi Palace. They are of
wrought-iron, and were made by a smith who enjoyed a local celebrity,
not only on account of his masterly work, but also because he carried
on his business on a strictly cash basis; nay, went further, and
refused to work for any one who did not prepay, in part at least, for
his order. Thus he received the name of _Caparra_, or
Earnest-money."--_Florentine Life_, by W. B. Scaife, p. 58.

There is one thing in this legend which alone would seem to guarantee its
being an authentic or old tradition. In it Niccolo appears as a man who
is eminently grasping, and who takes care to get his money in advance.
And he was in reality so noted for this